Blake Griffin has Clippers soaring, but some call him soft

Updated 10:58 pm, Saturday, March 15, 2014

Blake Griffin turns a rebound into a powerful dunk Wednesday against the Warriors. Griffin has elevated his game and helped the Clippers become the hottest team in basketball.

Blake Griffin turns a rebound into a powerful dunk Wednesday against the Warriors. Griffin has elevated his game and helped the Clippers become the hottest team in basketball.

Photo: Danny Moloshok, Associated Press

Blake Griffin has Clippers soaring, but some call him soft

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The Clippers just keep on winning, leaving little trails of bitterness in their wake. Blake Griffinseems to be on a personal crusade to irritate every opposing player in the league, and he's well on his way.

Here's a really disgusting thought for Griffin's naysayers: What if he wins the MVP award?

It's not such a crazy notion. Griffin has elevated his game dramatically, adding mid-range jumpers, post-up moves and TimDuncan-like bank shots to his high-flying dunk routine. Last week, it seemed Griffin had ascended to No. 3 in the MVP race behind (in either order) LeBron Jamesand Kevin Durant. Now it's hard to make a serious argument against the Clippers' mercurial forward.

If this is really about value, as opposed to talent, consider the possibility of the Clippers finishing with the best record in either conference. They have only two fewer victories than either San Antonio or Indiana, the leaders in their respective conferences. They're looking unstoppable right now, surviving injuries to Jamal Crawfordand J.J. Redickto post a 10-game winning streak, and with all credit to head coach Doc Riversand point guard ChrisPaul, Griffin's stunning improvement has made the difference.

If there's an obstacle to Griffin's candidacy, it's his reputation. Opponents think his snarky attitude is out of line, and it was hardly surprising to learn that the Warriors' Jermaine O'Neal, upset with one of Griffin's in-game comments Wednesday night, waited outside the Clippers' locker room afterward to initiate a heated conversation.

The two eventually shook hands - O'Neal says it's important to remember that - but Griffin surely realizes there's more to come. And here we arrive at the central issue: Is this tough, rugged performer really a wimp at heart?

A lot of people believe exactly that. After the Clippers lost their playoff series to Memphis last year, teammate ChaunceyBillups told ESPN, "I don't agree that Blake is soft, but maybe he's too nice of a guy. Because there have been times when people take shots at him. And I tell him, if that's me, I'll take the two- or three-game suspension, because I'm going to punish somebody."

Early this season, after Matt Barnesgot into a scuffle with Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka, he seemed to be targeting Griffin in a tweet savaging his teammates for not joining the fray. Then there was ESPN's Michael Wilbon, echoing a sentiment previously expressed by the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, in a "Pardon the Interruption" segment last week: "He's a grown man, and people are going after him. He's going to have to pop somebody. He's gonna have to hold his ground and square off, a la Maurice Lucas, on the court. In front of everybody."

Lucas, over a 12-year NBA career in the '70s and '80s, blended scoring ability and an enforcer's brutality into a formidable package. Griffin won't ever be that type of player, and he knows it. "To me, toughness isn't just being ready to throw a punch or push somebody and be tough like that," he told the Los Angeles Times. "It's about having that mental toughness, as well, to stay in the game."

Sounds awfully logical from here. His opponents don't seem to agree, raising the issues of jealousy and envy, but Griffin would do well to sharpen his trash-talking game - if not eliminate it altogether.

Around the NBA

-- Speaking of major irritants, Houston guard Patrick Beverleyhas established himself as a legitimate in-your-face defender, often taking his aggressiveness a bit too far. Portland's Damian Lillardpublicly ripped Beverley for resorting to "little sick stuff," and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrookstill wants a piece of Beverley after his cheap-shot tactic sent Westbrook into knee surgery during last year's playoffs. Beverley can be an influential offensive player, as well, to the point where Jeremy Linhas become strictly a reserve for the Rockets.

-- All of which leads to this: There's a pretty fair chance the Warriors will see either Griffin or Beverley in the playoffs. Sharpen up those elbows.

-- Easily one of the most ill-advised contract extensions in NBA history: the Lakers handing Kobe Bryant $48.5 million over two years. Aside from pulling the trigger far too early, without making sure Bryant's health was intact, they set up a major conflict with their marquee player. Bryant wants to win immediately - like, next year - but his deal comes off as selfish, limiting the Lakers' financial flexibility in luring free agents (as if LeBron or anyone else would want to join that sorry outfit next season). The team is targeting the 2015 free-agent market, at which point Kobe might be considering retirement. Worse yet, Bryant is steamed about Phil Jacksonjoining the Knicks, leaving L.A. with overmatched chief executive Jim Buss. Complete mess.

-- Several readers wondered why we didn't include Gail Goodrichin last week's list of the best left-handed point guards. Easy: Although there weren't specific "1" and "2" backcourt designations in Goodrich's time, he was a prime-time scorer from the time UCLA won its first title under John Wooden(1964, with Walt Hazzardrunning the offense). Goodrich could do it all, but any reputable historical record would list him as a shooting guard.

-- The evidence just keeps pouring in: There can be no replacing Jim Barnettas the Warriors' TV analyst. Aside from his razor-sharp recall of the NBA dating back to the mid-'60s, he appreciates the opposition (as all the great broadcasters do), understands the subtleties of the Warriors' talent and won't hesitate to point out their shortcomings. Can't imagine anyone stepping into that job without representing a major letdown.

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